InHer City

Call for Creativity!

Gunderson High School's Girls for a Change Girl Action Team has decided to take on a project tackling the issue of body image and the effects it has on society. Many of us, at one point or another, have experienced an obstacle dealing with body image, and many of us can relate to it, whether it be through putting ourselves on diets to be skinny, or wondering how we can change our bodies to fit the criteria that society seems to lay out. One way our Girl Action Team is trying to change the overwhelming issue is by putting together a compilation of letters and poems addressed to girls about the topic. We are hoping that those who would like to help us conquer this obstacle of society will help by sending in letters or poems that can be left anonymous, so that we may add them to our compilation. When finished, all letters and poems will be put together in a book and then distributed out to the community when done. Please be a part in helping us change the community by contributing to this project - GHS Girls for a Change Girl Action Team

Letters and poems can be e-mailed to [email protected]
Ideas to talk about:
Life experiences
Media Influences
Friendships
Appreciation of your body
and much more...

Poetry Slam

It is so inspiring, amazing, and super energetic to attend a poetry slam with people from your neighborhood. You get to see, listen, and feel all sorts of different things. The Girl Steering Committee for Girls For A Change had our first connection event at MACLA, the well-known place for poetry slammin’! I was so inspired and energetic by the time the event was over. I even felt like taking poetry workshops; which MACLA offered for free for about three weeks. Anyway, the slam had a variety of poets/poems, from simple everyday things, to personal and deep feelings, and definitely culture expression!

During the slam, I listened to someone express their feelings and thoughts about something as simple as coffee. Something people drink for energy, but usually never stop to make a poem about. I also got to listen and feel the thoughts about peer pressure not just from school but from home and parents as well. But, the most inspiring poem was about my culture and things I’ve had to deal with, yes: Machismo. This brilliant young man, gave us the definition, the things men and women do when their lives are ruled by this negativity, and the consequences that we refuse to see before our eyes. We are so blinded that we don’t stop to change this ugly mentality.

This poetry slam was a place where I met young adults who are opening their minds, becoming “un-blinded” and take steps for a positive change. To see people expressing themselves and speaking their minds made me feel so proud. I said to myself, “Look at us, how many people have the ability to express themselves in poems and speeches? We are so not the stereotypical lazy Mexicans”

This is so empowering to me because many of us (Mexicans) or any other Minorities (Cultures) don’t have the opportunity to even realize, that they have all this incredible potential inside themselves for anything they are passionate about. So, when I see someone on stage from my culture, being so powerful and expressing themselves in front of the public, it is like seeing family on stage! And, to see family on stage, makes me feel very proud of who I am and where I come from.

As a young Mexican, this is very important to me, because I see my culture taking baby steps to a positive change! No matter how big or how small the steps are. Did you know that California had the largest Hispanic population in July 2004 (12.4 million) and the largest numerical increase (351,000) since July 2003. If there are so many of us, then why are this statistics the way they are:

Of the 81 women serving in the 109th Congress, 7 are Latina

Of the 81 women serving in statewide elective executive offices, 3 are Latina

Of the 1,666 women State Legislators serving nationwide, 69 are Latina.

But even little statistics can be empowering…

I am now part of those who take baby steps for change, because of GFC, and because of the inspirational people I meet. From big names like Bertice Berry, to common young adults like me at the poetry slams. Imagine what it would be like to see more members of Congress and the U.S. Senate who are of our cultures, imagine the big change: who really gets represented in the “big house” I’m not saying go into politics, I’m just saying “Anyone has potential, who gets to see it and practice is a few people” So, find your inner potential and use it, because it is a great tool, the key to many doors! - Alicia

Poweful Poetry

In 2003 Laura Bush organized a symposium entitled Poetry and the American Voice. As an invitee, poet Sam Hamill declined due to his strong opposition to the Bush Administration’s foreign policy in Iraq. Instead, he emailed about 50 fellow poets and asked them to send poems to him expressing how they felt about U.S.armed forces in Iraq so he could forward the poems to the White House.

1,500 poets responded within 4 days.

The Poetry and the American Voice event was cancelled. Since then, poets from all over the world have contributed their emotion, intellect, criticism, and creativity and been published on the website created to manage this outpour of expression, www.poetsagainstthewar.org. And then, the poetry spilled out of the computer and across cafes and schools. Poetry readings were held in villages, homes and government buildings around the world. There are now over 20,000 poems in the largest poetry anthology ever published. Poems have been presented to representatives of the U.S. congress and introduced into the Congressional Record. Children, elders and people who never fashioned themselves as poets are participating. Renowned poets including feminist Adrienne Rich and U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins have also contributed.

Now, a new documentary, Voices In Wartime, is debuting and screening across the U.S.It tells a story of how people are coming together to speak their feelings, be heard and take action on a community and global level. However, it has been a challenge to find places to screen the independent film. Quick to take action and rise to the challenge, poets and non poets are contacting local independent theatres, non profit organizations are hosting public screenings and radio stations are playing excerpts. And so I ask us all to ponder, regardless of how you feel about the U.S.in Iraq: Are Poets Against the War and Voices In Wartime examples of social change? If so, how? How is the internet being used to harness creativity, thought and voice to create collective action? Or is it? And the last question I pose is this: are we in some way actually experiencing the cancelled Poetry and the American Voice event? - Patty

I am...

I AM...      

I am a writer. I am a dreamer. I am exhausted. I am a hard worker. I am passionate. I am opinionated. I am an over achiever. I am ambitious. I am a linguist. I am a lover. I am humorous. I am eccentric. I am a worrier. I am a singer. I am a hard sleeper. I am creative. I am amazing. I am unique. I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a potential mother. I am strong. I am a dancer. I am tenacious. I am a friend. I am loving. I am loved. I am beautiful. I am vivacious. I am a woman. I am enchanting. I am an actress. I am courageous. I am an adventurer. I am excited. I am adventurous. I am a believer. I am a fighter. I am alive. I am a painter. I am wonderful. I am a scientist. I am curious. I am a cook. I am a chef. I am an optimist. I am a musician. I am an artist. I am a teacher. I am a student. I am a goddess. I am a poet. I am a designer. I am a free thinker. I am a mechanic. I am a mathematician. I am a traveler. I am a romantic. I am a realist. I am an activist. I am a feminist. I am a healer. I am an athlete. I am unbreakable. I am a perfectionist. I am a swimmer. I am a jogger. I am not always perfect. I am an intellectual. I am a comedian. I am leader. I am a confidant. I am a philosopher. I am an animal lover. I am confident. I am vulnerable. I am intense. I am charismatic. I am young. I am real. I am smart. I am powerful. I am bold. I am thoughtful. I am a reader. I am a star. I am captivating. I am graceful (sometimes). I am a do-er. I am a princess. I am a giver. I am dazzling. I am a clown. I am a child. I am mature. I am unpredictable. I am steady. I am valuable. I am irreplaceable. I am level-headed. I am sporadic. I am willful. I am wild. I am quiet. I am soft. I am calm. I am insightful. I am radiant. I am daring. I am spirited. I am not afraid. I am generous. I am kind. I am dynamic. I am my own person. I am lovely. I am sensitive. I am sporty.
I am a girl!

I Am... was written by the girls of Momentum

www.girlsonbodyimage.com